My daughter has lived in San Francisco for over a decade. There are many great attractions in the city center. If you’re a first-time visitor, you may want to drive the winding road down Lombard Street, or take the Cable Car to Fisherman’s Wharf, where you can dine on delicious seafood and sourdough bread. Afterward, you can stroll over to Ghiradelli Square for a decadent dessert or walk along the Embarcadero to Pier 39 to ride the carousel, window shop, and watch the sea lions. It’s a great vantage point to view the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge and infamous Alcatraz Island. One Thanksgiving, my husband and I skipped the turkey dinner and had fresh crab, chowder, and a chocolate sundae instead. Yum! And no cooking required.
Since my grandkids are locals, they aren’t really interested in the tourist spots. Been there, done that. They’d rather visit the animals at the San Francisco Zoo. They’re also drawn to the displays and interactive exhibits at the California Academy of Sciences and The Exploratorium. I was fascinated by the Lego 3D Batman Zoetrope with the diving penguins at The Exploratorium. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpr3LenRtMk&ab_channel=TheTravelingMcNairs They also like to ride their scooters at the Palace of Fine Arts, bike across the Golden Gate Bridge, hike in the Muir Woods, and go on other outdoor adventures.
During our last visit, we headed over to Coyote Point Recreation Area. We strolled along the beachfront promenade and watched the windsurfers and SFO airplanes. My granddaughter adored the giant, castle-and-dragon-themed Magic Mountain Playground, especially the giant slide and swings. The boys had fun scrambling over the large rocks along the seaside and scaling the playground climbing structures. It was the perfect spot for a picnic. I’ve discovered that family outings are more successful when they include the anticipation of a tasty treat at the end for well-behaved children…
We are returning to San Francisco next month to visit with our grandchildren again. I’m looking forward to reading books with my grandkids, going on nature walks, and eating lots of yummy food. Every visit is a memorable adventure.
